Giambi's walkoff homer gives Rockies 10th straight victory

Colorado's deficit in NL West cut to 1 1/2 games

Jason Giambi looks as happy as a rookie who connected on his first major-league homer after the veteran powered a two-run, walkoff shot in the ninth inning Sunday at Coors Field.
(Jack Dempsey, The Associated Press
)

As Jason Giambi flipped his helmet in the air like a wedding bouquet and stomped on home plate Sunday, there was only one possible conclusion to reach:

When it comes to the Rockies in September, they are much easier to accept than explain.

After five months of reaching repeated crossroads, a clear path to the playoffs has opened after a 4-2 walkoff victory over the Diamondbacks. The only team that felt worse than Arizona about Colorado's 10th straight win was the San Diego Padres.

They are next. They arrive tonight as a first-place team in name only, locked in a virtual tie with the Giants and leading the Rockies by only 1 1/2 games after dropping 13 of their last 17.

The Rockies started this current streak against San Diego on Sept. 3. They have won 13 of their last 15 games at Coors Field and own a 10-game winning streak against division leaders.

"Even (Sunday), the (Arizona) guys, were asking, 'How do you guys keep doing this every year?' " said shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, whose Rockies are 58-33 in September since 2007.

"You know other teams are aware of it. It goes to show that there's no quit in us. It's always in the back of our mind that we are capable of doing this."

After losing Sept. 2 to the Phillies, which was nothing less than a crowbar to the shins, the Rockies trailed the Padres by 7 1/2 games. They have been supermodel hot since. During their current streak, they have outscored opponents 62-29, outhomered them 14-5 and outpitched them, their starters compiling a 3.50 ERA.

"Ten days ago, every loss felt like, 'Oh, my God!' Now, we don't have to walk in that clubhouse anymore and think we have to win every game," manager Jim Tracy said. "We have put ourselves in good position if we can just continue winning every series."

Through six innings, Colorado's offense was a rumor against Ian Kennedy. He allowed just two hits as he pounded out three himself. All that baserunning led to cramps and an early exit.

Jhoulys Chacin had a short work period Sunday, lasting four innings and giving up two runs — both unearned — against the Diamondbacks.
(Jack Dempsey, The Associated Press )

Arizona's bullpen was an easy target for the Rockies. Ryan Spilborghs hit a blooper into left field in the seventh, the ball ricocheting off Stephen Drew's glove to tie the score at 2.

"I knew the outfield was playing deep for no doubles, so I thought it had a chance," Spilborghs said. "It never hurts to get lucky."

With five Rockies relievers stringing together zeroes — eight strikeouts and three hits in five innings — there was a deli counter feel in the dugout. Every guy was just waiting for his number to be called so he could exchange his ticket for stardom du jour.

After mulling it several times earlier in the game, Tracy told Giambi to grab a bat in the ninth. Giambi crushed Sam Demel's 85-mph changeup — "It sure looked like he was sitting on it," Demel said — unleashing the mosh pit celebration that has the Rockies on the precipice of first place.

"I knew I hit it good," Giambi said. "There's no better feeling than seeing your teammates waiting for you at home plate."

Looking ahead

TODAY: Padres at Rockies, 6:40 p.m., FSN

Jeff Francis (4-4, 4.56 ERA) figured his season might be over. His biceps tendon healed last week, but there was no vacancy in the rotation, and bullpen work was likely only in a rout. Francis gets another shot, filling in for his injured close friend Aaron Cook. Francis has not started since working six innings against the Mets on Aug. 11. The Rockies delivered two big swings to make Cory Luebke (1-1, 3.27) a loser in his big-league debut, with Jason Giambi and Troy Tulowitzki homering Sept. 3. The Rockies are 11-4 against the Padres this season.